Celtics Struggle Against Nuggets, Look to Rebound at Home Versus Brooklyn

The Boston Celtics closed their West Coast road trip with a 103-84 loss to the Denver Nuggets, finishing the stretch with a 3-1 record. The defeat also ended Boston’s chances of reaching the coveted “40-20” milestone. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Celtics struggled offensively, failing to generate consistent scoring from inside the paint, mid-range, or beyond the arc.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla highlighted Denver’s physicality and defensive schemes as key factors in the loss. “They were very physical at the point of attack,” Mazzulla said, noting Denver’s effective switching and aggressive defense that disrupted Boston’s rhythm. Despite recent improvements in rebounding, fatigue showed on the road, with the Celtics losing the glass battle 54-48 and conceding 23 second-chance points, including 14 offensive rebounds to the Nuggets.

Celtics Face Brooklyn After Turnovers, Defensive Struggles and Exhausting Road Trip

Turnovers and defensive lapses further hurt Boston. Denver converted 14 points off Celtics’ turnovers, scored 42 points in the paint, and deflected 17 passes compared to Boston’s 11. The Nuggets effectively controlled tempo and found quality shots despite Boston’s defensive efforts, exposing vulnerabilities that compounded the Celtics’ offensive struggles.

Looking ahead, the Celtics return home to face the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, Feb. 27. Boston leads the season series 2-1 against Brooklyn, and a full day of rest may help the team recover from a taxing road trip. Fans will hope that playing at home with renewed energy and family support will help the Celtics regain their offensive rhythm and defensive intensity as they aim to finish the season strong.